Field Training Officer's (FTO's), are responsible for training the police recruit after they have graduated from the police academy. In the FTO program, the recruit has to complete 4 Steps which include riding with three different FTO's for 4 weeks each. Each FTO has different areas of responsibilities to teach the recruit. The FTO's are required to write detailed reports each day on how the recruit handled themselves on any given call. At the end of the shift, the recruit is scored as to their overall performance for that day. The FTO and recruit discuss how the shift went, and then review some of the problem areas that the recruit may have encountered. 

In the first step of the program, the recruit is told to "watch and learn". The FTO will handle almost 90% of the calls and reports. As the recruit continues through the different steps of training, their areas of responsibility increase. They are allowed to drive the squad car, speak on the squad radio, handle calls, talk to complainants and/or victims and write reports. The recruit will also have to learn and understand the local ordinances or laws that the city enforces, driving related offenses and have a thorough knowledge of the many different elements that constitute crimes of society.

In the 4th step of training, the recruit is put back with the original FTO that he began with in Step 1. This FTO now becomes what is known as a "shadow" to the recruit. The FTO is in plain clothes and not in uniform, and stands in the background and only observes. The recruit will handle 100% of the work, without any assistance from his FTO. The only time the FTO will assist the recruit is if the recruit requests his help, or if the FTO has to make a decision that the recruit can not make at that time. 

In the years that I held the position of FTO, I truly enjoyed training the many recruits in the "ways" of the street. I tip my hat to the men and women that have worn or now wear the FTO bars on their collars. To them I say, "Congratulations, on a job well done".

Continue to learn about my time as an Evidence Technician.